I developed the idea for this design across on the ferry to Islay, one of my favourite Hebridean locations. On my frequent trips there, I often find that Westering Home – Hugh Roberton’s famous 1920s song – pops into in my head, and it seemed an appropriate name for this cosy cabled garment.

If you would like to travel with me to Islay, and hear Norma Munro’s beautiful rendition of this song, press play. Warning: Watching this video may create an instant earworm and / or a desire to visit the Hebrides.

We had great fun shooting the photographs on a westering journey. We began west of our home, in mainland Argyll . . .

. . . took more photographs on the Islay ferry . . .

. . . and completed the shoot at Kildalton, on the island of Islay itself.

. . .where Bruce was keen to join in the fun.

Westering Home is a large, loose, coat-like garment worn with positive ease. To create the wrapped opening, each front is doubled to the same width as the back, and the yoke shaping is accomplished by working decreases between the cable panels.

Carefully blocking and steaming the bottom of the garment more than the top, lends this design some swing, allowing the cable and rib panels to fall in a slightly pleated manner.

The cabled fronts of this cardigan can be worn open or doubled across the body and depending on the amount of ease preferred, can be adjusted and buttoned to suit.

The yarn is Artesano aran – a robust, warm wool / alpaca blend of which I am inordinately fond. It comes in some lovely complex shades and knits up into fantastically squishy cables.

I have to say that this a yoke design I’m really pleased with – the pattern is really simple and logical to knit, it works up all in one piece, and the end result is a cosy, dramatic and versatile winter garment that should suit pretty much everyone.

For those of you who have been asking, everything is going to plan with the book, and I will activate the shop for pre-orders as soon as we have gone to print, which is looking like it will be next week.

I have gone all Catherine on you (the commenter^from Brissie!). How do I know all the words to Westering Home? Must be genetic.
Lovely, thank you for the ear worm. Thankyou for your lovely creations, too. And Catherine in Brissie – get in touch, we must be twins! Also 61 :)
Jasmine

Hello Kate, from Wkatydid, Brisbane, Australia,
This constant subtropical knitter loves and follows your blog avidly. Somewhat sadly, have to chose lighter garments and yarn with plenty of synthetic to avoid being devastated by moths.
I am especially moved to comment regarding the youtube piece about Islay. A lot of Scottish blood has reseponded to the beauty of the Island, and the exquisite production of the song Westering Home. I have only known the song for about a decade following listening specifically to a lot of Scottish music. (I am aged 61). Even the word Westering is deeply evocative of another time and place for me. Thank you so much……

This is amazing as is but also – that beautiful neckline and pattern would yield a great cropped sweater – pretty short, maybe 2-4 inches below the bust. It would decorate whatever you wore with it. Tempting!

Another stunner – and a stealth yoke as well, showing that the form is not confined to the expected stranded colorwork of Shetland and Iceland. You and Bruce look to be having a wonderful time, as well you should in such beautiful surroundings.

Let’s hope we don’t crash the website the minute we’re allowed to order!

Another stunner, and a stealth yoke at that, showing that the form isn’t just for stranded colorwork in Shetland or Icelandic style. You and Bruce look to be having a wonderful time in beautiful country.

I hope the influx of orders doesn’t crash the site when you release the book!

Such a beautiful garment. Suits you so well. I too had a tear in my eye. We used to sing Westering Home and other Scottish tunes at my junior school many years ago. (I’m 65.) We also did Scottish country dancing.

Oh dear – can someone make this for me? I can only crochet (and only squares, at that!). Haven’t been to Islay since I was 8. We had left Washington DC, where I was born and moved to England in 71. Lived a few months in Milngavin until we got a home in the South of England. Following summer, family holiday to Islay as we all pined for Scotland so much. (Imagine the contrast with Washington DC!) THe most beautiful place I ever went to. Stayed in Portnahaven, swam in Losset Bay; saw first peat fires, seals, sea anemones, lobsters, danced at a ceilidh (near a yarn shop where I had bought some red wool and some purple), went to the Laphroaig distillery (awful smells!) and fetched spring water from the nearby well as the tap water ran brown form the peat….

Double gasp! Didn’t expect to see that sort of yolk, can’t wait for the book! Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures – I love the Hebrides that was just an extra treat.
Many congrats on the driving test. The cardi will most definitely have helped and given you the required boost. There will be no stopping you now, Bruce will not know that he is born!

ohmygodohmygodohmygod……….did you hear me say that??? I LOVE it and Islay IS my favourite because my favourite whisky’s come from there…Laphroaig and Lagavulin !!
The colour of the coat is lovely and suits you and your dress to a T.

OH WOW! That is just completely gorgeous! Shall have to buy the book now, and I was in two minds because, much as i love your stuff, I am a busty women unconvinced about the suitability of yokes. But this is must knit.

I am probably the world’s least weepy person, and yet the beauty in that video made my eyes start stinging with tears. What a lovely country. Actually, lovely doesnt do it justice but I cant think of a better word right now.
It’s a bit strange to me that there are people in the world that get to wake up and see that beauty every day, and I wonder if they stop noticing?
Your new design is wonderful as well. I agree, it should look good on nearly everyone.

Cables!!! Very modern and contemporary design. I see it worn with jeans and tall brown leather riding boots. But the long skirt makes it more dramatic – love it. If only I had time to knit everything that I plan!

Hazel, I got very excited when I read your comment about snow. I went looking online then I realised you must be in Canada and not Suffolk, England. For a moment I thought we might have snow heading our way.

Hi – while raglans are shaped at just four points at the underarm / armscye, yokes generally have several different shaping points and behave more circularly – in this garment the shaping is placed in several segments or wedges between the cable panels. It might help to visualise the spokes of a wheel . . .

Thanks Kate. I was thinking that you’d done the decreasing through the traditional raglan lines – not sure if some of the decreases are at those points and the others are hidden in the cables, or maybe it’s a trick of the light and what I’m thinking are decreases aren’t. Hope that makes sense. I’ve knit one yoke sweater, so am sort of familiar with the basic shaping, but am sure there’s more than one way to skin the proverbial cat.

Ohoh sigh what a beautiful post, what a treat to wake up with! Ohio is beautiful but one day we will go back and visit Scotland again. And yuo are an excellent model for your beautiful designs, the dress is so gorgeous too. Thanks Kate, with love from across the big pond, Johanna

Such a magical place. No wonder you have such a fertile imagination for design with such a feast for the eyes to draw from! It’s 20 degrees here in Pennsylvania where I live (at least that is what my thermometer says). That comfy coat looks like it would be a perfect match for me! Once again, a brilliant design!